Wildlife recovery

Liliana Pacheco Ricote/Humane World for Animals

Chimpanzees at Second Chance Chimpanzee Refuge, Liberia

Every individual wild animal matters. When animals are injured, trafficked or displaced, they need fast, expert care—and a clear path to recovery.

Humane World for Animals works with rescue professionals, sanctuaries, veterinarians and law enforcement to respond to wild animals in urgent need. By working in partnership, we strengthen capacity, share resources and ensure animals are cared for quickly and to high welfare standards by people equipped to meet their often complex welfare needs.

Each animal receives a tailored plan, from initial rescue through to long-term sanctuary or release back into the wild.

This work is made possible through our field and funding partnerships.

Working in partnership, we aim to ensure that rescued wild animals are not only saved but given a genuine chance to recover. We:

• Provide law enforcement with clear, evidence-based guidance on caring for rescued wild animals.
• Support expert wildlife rescuers and rehabilitators responding to the live wild animal trade and emergency situations through our Wildlife Critical Care Network.
• Help establish systems so that rescued animals have access to veterinary care, safe transport and temporary shelter that meet welfare standards, until they can be placed in long-term sanctuary or released by trusted partners.

• Through our partnership with VulPro, injured vultures have been successfully rehabilitated and released, and a collaborative captive breeding programme celebrated the successful hatching of a chick.
• Our Second Chance Chimpanzee Rescue in Liberia provides sanctuary for more than 50 chimpanzees, alongside environmental education and wildlife conservation programmes in schools and communities.
• Our support for the African Pangolin Working Group strengthens rescue, rehabilitation, and reintegration efforts for critically endangered pangolins.
• Through our partnership with ARCAS Rescue Center, we work to rehabilitate and release wildlife rescued from the pet trade and other negative human interactions.

ARCAS wildlife centre

A raccoon receiving veterinary treatment

Wild animals rescued from the live wildlife trade or from injury need urgent access to expert, often life-saving care if they are to survive. Yet rescuers often lack a fast, reliable way to connect wildlife experts, including specialist veterinarians. This can lead to delays in treatment or animals being housed temporarily in unsuitable conditions. 

Humane World for Animals is addressing this gap by developing the Wildlife Critical Care Network—a tool designed to help first responders quickly access the expertise, care and safe housing they need.

Our aim is always to return wild animals to the wild where possible. Where this is not feasible, we work to ensure they are placed in high-quality, long-term sanctuary.